Ski cutting: Forest Service permit offers hardy skiers chance to snag a Christmas tree

Madison and Brian Kinder took full advantage of November’s snow and the Forest Services Christmas tree permit program Saturday.

The couple headed to the Idaho/Montana border, near Lookout Pass, to cut down a Christmas tree, at the same time getting in an early season ski tour. They skied up a Forest Service road and then ducked into the woods to find a suitable tree.

“It was great,” Kinder said in a message.

The expedition was made possible by the Idaho Panhandle’s online permit system.

The permits are free in the Panhandle Forest, although there is a $2.50 administrative charge. There is a three-tree limit per household.

In Washington’s 1.5 million-acre Colville National Forest, permits cost $5, and there is a two-tree limit per family. Fourth- and fifth-graders can cut a tree for free, according to a news release.

All trees must be harvested at least 50 feet from forest service roads and 150 feet from state highways, picnic areas, designated campgrounds and recreation sites or other developed areas, such as recreation cabins and organization camps.

Although rules vary slightly forest to forest, in general no tree taller than 12 feet can be cut and stumps must be less than 6 inches.

To get permits for either forest, and for more information, visit recreation.gov.